A couple of days ago Singapore Airlines announced a series of experiences that will likely make a lot of avgeeks very happy. Unfortunately with Singapore’s borders more or less closed, most of us won’t have access to these experiences.
Continue reading: Singapore Airlines’ A380 Restaurant: Pricing Revealed
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
The article (advert) does not mention the cost - but then again if you have to ask...
@ Joe Chivas -- "Book the Cook" is when you can pre-order your meal before your Singapore Airlines flight. "Book the Chef" is when a chef shows up at your house to reheat your food.
Fantastic idea! These planes already have HEPA filters so I'd feel safer eating inside a plane than inside a restaurant with poor air ventilation.
@ Joey
Your comparison to an indoors restaurant might be valid.
Yes, aircraft have HEPA filters. nevertheless, a study has essentially proven that contagion happens, the study focused on a Vietnam Airlines flight ex London. The study was during a period when masks were not required, but then again, an eating experience will not involve masks for most of the time.
@ Joey and Donato - Singapore has almost completely (if not completely) eliminated Covid from their borders, so people can largely live normal lives there (and that's why Singapore is largely closed to outsiders). Therefore, HEPA filters don't have the importance (at least when the plane is grounded) that they would if say United decided to operate a 777-300ER at SFO as a restaurant.
I wonder how they will board. My guess is near a hanger and by stairs, not at the gate. If they do it at the gate, it's possible to not have a security screen but customers would still have to pass through passport check.
Considering how great the food is in Singapore, I would find this to be a wasted meal when I could be out at a hawker centre trying something new!
I fail to see the excitement here. I eat on planes because I have to be on the plane to go somewhere. I don't have a particular desire to cram myself into a metal tube for a meal during a pandemic. Let alone in Singapore which is one of the world's great food cities.
For SIA@Home, the price is S$288 (about US$210) for Business Class meals and S$448 (around US$330) for First Class meals. Expectedly high for the high standards of Singapore Airlines.
The price is all over the SG expat forums and some local dining FB groups. It will be interesting to see what happens
You might have missed the bit about A380 simulator pricing - additional 500SGD + tax for 30 mins (up to 3 people allowed).
All of the experiences are priced as add ons to the 30 SGD entrance fee
@Lucky
I think you mean getting 0.008 SGD per mile, not 0.8 SGD per mile (which would’ve been excellent value).
Some clever tactics to gain extra revenue here. I disagree with eating on an A380 being the 'coolest of the inovations' however. Most people in Singapore will have flown and eaten airplane food (tiny island and high average income makes this highly likely). There may be some excitement among people who have never flown business or first class however.
To me the coolest innovation is definitely the 'Inside Singapore Airlines' experience. Very cool to go behind the scenes and experience the various activities they have on offer. Could actually be a fun family day out and I am sure the kids would enjoy playing dress up while the adults chug wine/play on the flight simulator. Would much prefer to do that rather than sit the family in business seats far away from each other side by side to eat (what, is in comparison to local food in Singapore) crap food.
Family of 4 in C cabin having a meal = S$1200. For S$100 less you could have a family of 4 do the SQ tour, 3 of them play on the flight simulator (sorry mum), both parents smash some wine and both kids do the flight attendant and grooming classes.
As an ex Singapore resident is it safe to assume that all those prices are “plus plus”?
Singapore shows how to tackle Covid-19.
Lockdown. Enforced. Go to a friend's house to study and get fined. They told everyone to wear a surgical mask, not this flimsy cloth masks stuff that we do in the US.
As a result, now there low Covid-19 rates in Singapore and people can leave their home with confidence. All it takes is about 3-4 weeks of lockdown.
Singapore 'book the cook' business class food was SOO bad. Compare the steak with shoe leather (I think) and the lobster totally inedible. The food in the Singapore lounge also disappointing.
Just sharing on some background of these Singapore Airlines A380 Restaurant Flights.
Now, all 26 crew on these A380 V3 (with updated interiors) aircraft are purely doing this on a voluntary basis. The 26 crew are not getting a dime from this assignment, despite the media hype and all the publicity from it.
A ballpark cost of a typical 3hr service inflight will be $1050 as per crew's hourly rates based on their respective ranks, albeit this service is conducted on ground.
However, crew will still have to constantly ensure safety of all Pax, irregardless if the aircraft pushes back or not. (Ensuring seat belts are NOT fastened, emergency exits are not obstructed etc in case of emergency evacuation.)
Am not against voluntary efforts but at a time like this, believe the airline should make good and provide their crew the much deserved per hour rate (in addition to crew basic pay). Like the rest of us, crew themselves too have liabilities and commitments to meet.
Senior Leadership, who are led by the CEO of the Year (2016) should do this right. In any case, selling slightly under two Suite seats (S$642 per Suite) will already cover off the cost of crew during their duty hours, on ground.
So just a note to all you pax out there to be nice and appreciate them for what they do, to make your desires fulfilled.
Update: October 14th, 2020: crew are expected to be on duty from 10am to 11pm - for both lunch and dinner sessions. Hence a 13 hour duty period, but without earning their keeps at per hour rates of between S$10 to S$20 depending on rank.
I was waitlisted when I went into the website to book and apparently all seats were fully booked. But surprise! Received a call from SIA on 21st Oct morning asking if I would like to proceed with my booking. I was waitlisted for economy initially but I asked the agent if there is any available seats for premium economy. Was told they will call me back and as it turns out I scored the premium economy seats.
Some might argue why waste money on meals you can get on the ground for lesser. My own personal take it is the whole experience the moment you leave your house and getting into the cab, checking in and finally able to sit in the airplane.